Short Stories of the American Witch and Witchcraft (Fantasy and Horror Classics) - Paperback

Ancient curses, forgotten rituals, and the shadows of Salem haunt the American night.

This sinister volume gathers a potent mix of classic and pulp horror, exploring the enduring, terrifying legacy of the witch and witchcraft in America, from the colonial era to the modern age. The collection features writers who defined American horror, myth, and the supernatural.

American Horrors: Salem and the Unspeakable

• The Salem Mass and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne: The great American author, whose ancestors were involved in the Salem Witch Trials, confronts the moral and spiritual rot beneath Puritan society. These foundational tales explore secret pacts, the terrifying power of hysteria, and the corruption of innocence in colonial New England.

• The Unnamable and Witches Hollow by H. P. Lovecraft: The master of cosmic horror delves into the deep, dark folklore of New England. These stories invoke chilling, monstrous entities, ancient pacts, and the lingering, unspeakable dread of the region's hidden history of witchcraft and monstrous beings.

Pulp Masters and Occult Investigators

• Dr. Muncing, Exorcist by Gordan Maccreagh: A thrilling pulp adventure featuring a dedicated exorcist and investigator battling demonic possession and powerful occult forces.

• Is the Devil a Gentleman? by Seabury Quinn: A story from the popular pulp magazine Weird Tales, featuring his celebrated occult detective, Jules de Grandin, who uses both logic and supernatural knowledge to fight diabolical crimes.

Fact and Hoax

• The Spell of Witchcraft by P. T. Barnum: A fascinating inclusion from the famous showman and hoax-master. This piece offers a unique, possibly skeptical or sensationalized, view of witchcraft and the "spells" that bewitched the American public mind in the 19th century.

This collection is a terrifying examination of the forces that haunt the American conscience, complete with short biographies of each author. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the roots of American weird fiction.